Who says games are a waste of time? Depending on the genre, they have the capacity to teach you almost anything. In particular, word games offer a unique blend of entertainment and puzzle-solving. And it just so happens that they feel right at home on contemporary Android tablets.
Word games can entertain, challenge, and educate, all in equal measure. In fact, they do so better than some of the craziest educational games that we've had the fortune (or misfortune) to play. This list, however, focuses on the good stuff as we'll take a look at the best word games on Android.
1 Bonza Word Puzzle
Picture this: someone tore apart a completed crossword puzzle, then asked you to put it back together, piece by piece. That's Bonza Word Puzzle, which offers a twist on classic crossword puzzle design.
Instead of filling in individual letters, it's your job to mix and match entire sections of a completed crossword puzzle to form full words. The game has a wide variety of themed puzzles, like animals, sports, and movies, so you can test your knowledge in different areas. And if you get stuck, there are hints and word associations to help you out.
2 CodyCross: Crossword Puzzles
If you’re a fan of crossword puzzles, you’ll love the gorgeous CodyCross app, where you have to fill in words on a grid based on the provided clues.
The game has many different crossword puzzles in different categories like history, science, and pop culture. Puzzles increase in difficulty as you progress, and if you get stuck, there are hints and ways to reveal letters or words to help you out. Additionally, you can participate in events and play different game modes to earn even more rewards.
In-app purchases range from $2 to $50 for tokens; you can also remove ads for 30 days or subscribe to a monthly subscription for $10. CodyCross is an entertaining way to pass the time and challenge yourself mentally.
3 Cryptogram - Puzzle Quotes
Cryptogram stands out among other games, both thanks to its challenging gameplay and gratifying rewards system. Every letter corresponds to another letter. This pattern serves as a hint to solve the underlying conundrum. Once you reveal all the letters, the game rewards you with a thought-provoking quote from a known poet or philosopher.
As such, you not only learn how to solve puzzles, but become more eloquent and knowledgeable too. As an added bonus, Cryptogram features leaderboards and, best of all, is also playable offline.
4 Kitty Letter
If you're looking for a competitive word game, Kitty Letter is a fantastic choice. The goal is simple: form words out of the letters provided. The bigger the word, the more armies you add to your side of the board.
Words form attacks. The first player to form more words to create the largest army wins the whole enchilada. Online gameplay is 1v1, and if you'd like to practice your word-forming skills before jumping into competitive play, there's also a full single-player campaign available.
5 Letterpress
Up the competitive ante with Letterpress. This highly engaging word game features gameplay for up to two players. Participants take turns at revealing words on the game's 5x5 boards of letters. Whoever captures more of the board's tiles by the end of the match - wins.
Letterpress can match you with players from around the world. But if you want to, you can also take part in leisurely matches against friends. A chat system lets you converse with your opponents while you play. And if you'd like to practice beforehand, you can always play against a bot opponent.
6 Ord.
If you're looking for something that bucks trends, a game that doesn't offer the typical word game gameplay, then perhaps Ord is what you're looking for. This is a narrative game that plays like a text-based adventure, and it offers four separate quests that all hinge on your word choices.
So say your character is about to wake; you can choose to sleep in or rise. Your choices matter, as the wrong choices can see things go sour pretty fast. So instead of picking and choosing letters to form words like many of the games in today's roundup, Ord is a game where you'll choose a word at each interaction to see each story to its end.
And yes, there is a definite focus on this text, which is why this is the perfect title for a word game roundup.
7 Scrabble GO
Is there a more classic word game than Scrabble? If there is, we're yet to find it. Scrabble GO brings the classic conundrum to mobile devices, with a plethora of game modes and achievements to boot.
Scrabble GO includes an extensive multiplayer mode, so you can play against friends and strangers alike. Leaderboards and rewards for placing high should keep you motivated. But if you ever get overwhelmed, there's enough solo content, and the ability to play against a skill-based bot.
8 Word Collect
This fun and challenging game is all about finding hidden words in a set number of letters that grows as you play. You just swipe your finger across the letters to make a word, and if it's correct, you score points and move on to the next level. The game contains unobtrusive ads that can be removed for a one-time fee of $10.
Word Collect gets harder as you progress, and you can earn coins and bonuses by finding extra words. If you get stuck, you can tap the shuffle or hint button to help you along. You’ll also want to keep progressing to unlock the game's features, like the daily challenge, leaderboards.
There's even a dictionary that you can use to look up the meanings of the words you find to help improve your vocabulary.
9 Wordfeud Premium
This one is for all of you Scrabble fans out there. Scrabble makes it easy for its opponents by including in-app purchases that range up to $299.99 per item. The times we live in, right? As such, you may as well opt for a clone like Wordfeud. Unlike Scrabble, the complete package of Wordfeud is available for an affordable single upfront cost of $5.99.
It supports online play, so you can face off against friends and family anytime you want. Sure, you'll have to convince them to install Wordfeud, but since there is also a free version, anyone can give it a try.
10 Words for a Bird
Bart Bonte is best known for his color games like Red and Black; much like these titles, Words for a Bird is an odd game that uses minimal art. Instead, it relies on solid gameplay to entertain.
The goal in Words for a Bird is to figure out the missing word in provided phrases by selecting the letters on your screen. Not all of these letters are used, so you have to think about the solutions a bit. There are a total of 15 puzzles to solve (and that's it), so this is a short game, but it's also a fun one. Like Peter Griffin once said: "Bird is the word".
11 Wordscapes
Wordscapes has been available on Android since 2017. It's managed to last longer than most titles, and that probably has something to do with the focus on live service gameplay. The game works like a mix of a crossword puzzle and Boggle, where you'll create words to fit in the fields at the top of the screen by utilizing the letters at the bottom of your screen.
It's a simple setup that grows challenging fast. In-app purchases are present, though you can pay to remove the game's advertisements, which is appreciated. More or less, Wordscapes offers enjoyable word-based gameplay, whether you play for free or invest some funds into the title.
12 Word Search Puzzle
Word Search Puzzle offers a classic word search experience. Players are tasked with hunting down words within a large block of letters. These words can be hidden anywhere, even diagonally, which makes finding all of them especially challenging.
To make things even more difficult, Word Search Puzzle features three difficulty levels. There are a few optional modes that include a timer to put more pressure on the player. The game is a pleasure to look at and play, which is probably why it's already claimed over one million downloads.
13 Word Yard - Fun With Words
Boggle and crossword fans will enjoy Word Yard, as it mixes both genres into one game. You'll place the letters provided at the bottom of the screen into the crossword-like fields in the center of the screen.
It's an intuitive setup that should appeal to adults and children alike, and the monetization isn't all that bad either. The biggest annoyance is the game's ads, but you can pay to remove them. On the bright side, Word Yard features an offline mode which makes it great for commute play.
Try some of the best word games on Android
Simple to learn mechanics and short game time make word games great for children and adults alike. These qualities also make them exceptional for playing during daily commute to work. And don't forget that you'll likely come out more erudite by the end of your trip.
Did we omit your favorite word game on Android? Type it in the comments below and we'll be sure to include it in a future update.